Sunday, December 21, 2008

Ana said YES!






Mike wanted the family to be together when he was going to ask the big question... Would you marry me? And guess what Ana said?
We are very happy for them.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

2008 Christmas Program Klein High School



We (Saul, Mila and I) enjoyed the Christmas Program at Carla's School. Bravo, Bravo!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts


When I finished Grade School in 1967. My mom and I went to the Expo 67 in Montreal, Canada. It was a great experience for me. We arrived in New York and took a bus from New York to Montreal. As I recall we spent a few days in New York. I remember walking on 5th Avenue, and I remember visiting some museums and also the United Nations.

My mom took the picture I show here in front of the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts. I was sitting by the water fountain that was dedicated to Mr. Charles Revson The founder of Revlon.


Photo by Carol M. Highsmith

Lincoln Center is the largest performing arts complex in the world, housing 12 different arts organizations. Many architects have contributed buildings to the complex: Wallace K. Harrison, Metropolitan Opera House; Max Abramovitz, Avery Fisher Hall; Philip Johnson, New York State Theater; Pietro Belluschi, Juilliard School and Alice Tully Hall; and Eero Saarinen, Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Hayden Masden is 2!







Hayden celebrated his second birthday at the park with his cousins (including Aurora) and other members of the family.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Peter Schiff - Please Watch



Two Years Ago - Watch this one first...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Monolitic Olmec Heads






The Olmec flourished between about 1500 and 600 bc. San Lorenzo, their oldest known center, was destroyed around 900 bc. It was replaced by La Venta, a city built in an axial pattern that influenced urban development in Central America for centuries. A mounded earthen pyramid about 30 m (100 ft) high, among the earliest in Mesoamerica, was the center of a complex of temples and plazas.

The Olmec were the first to use stone architecturally and sculpturally, even though it had to be quarried in the Tuxtla Mountains of Veracruz. Their colossal basalt stone heads of males, about 2.7 m (9 ft) high and weigh as much as twenty tons, can be seen today at the open-air La Venta Park-Museum (Cost of one day pass $50 Mex. Pesos) in Villahermosa and at the Museum of Anthropology in Jalapa (Xalapa). Their writing, a numerical system, was the precursor of Mesoamerican writing. The Olmec civilization established patterns of culture that influenced its successors for centuries to come.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Tony Masden - Mike's dear father and friend


While I was in Villahermosa Mexico I heard from Ana the sad news of Mike's dad (Tony Masden) passing. He had been battling with his illness for few months now. I pray for Mike and Ana, that God will give them the strength and comfort them in their grieving. I also pray for Silvia and Tony's mom Millie during these difficult times. Tony and Matt will be together watching over the family from heaven.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Ted's 29th B-Day Cake!



We enjoyed celebrating Ted's birthday last Saturday. Jennifer gathered the family at their home for a dinner party. The Dinner Menu: Spaghetti with bolognese sauce, salads, garlic bread, and off course the cake which was a cheesecake that Mila made. Happy Birthday Ted and many more...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

2 Dollar Bill - 1928 Series


Hace 23 años Ely consiguió este billete cuando vivía en la parte sur de Miami. El billete había sido impreso en el año 1928. Cuando él vió el año de impresión enseguida pensó en su abuela Lina e inmediatamente se lo regaló. Desde entonces la abuela carga este billete en su cartera y no se ha separado de ese billete. La abuela Lina nació el 28 de Diciembre de 1928.

Halloween in 1984 - Maracaibo


En Maracaibo "Halloween" lo llaman "La Noche de las Brujas" hace veinticuatro años Jenny lo celebró en el colegio/kinder donde estudiaba. La maestra y dueña del colegio era una señora americana que daba las clases en Inglés.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween - #1 Pumpkin



Aurora was dressed as a "Pumpkin" to go Trick-Or-Treat this year. And she said "Que linda"
If I remember correctly she dressed as a pumpkin last year also! But this year she walked... Ana correct me if I am wrong.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Birthday Ted!


Today, Halloween 2008, Ted is celebrating his 29th birthday. We'll go to their house tomorrow for an "Spagetti" dinner to celebrate with them.

Ana, Mike and Aurora are Trick-or-Treating at Grandpa's neighborhood. I stayed home to welcome the Trick-or-Treaters of our neighborhood.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Tio Carlos Castillo in 1956

Nuestro tío Carlos Castillo en el período de 1956 al 1958 fué el Presidente del Club Alianza en Maracaibo. Esta foto me la envió Felix Canelon via BlackBerry.
Yo tengo recuerdos de visitas al club y de bañarme en la piscina frente al Lago de Maracaibo. Recuerdo que hacía frío por las tardecitas por la brisa que soplaba. Tambien recuerdo haber ido a un "baile" con orquesta como también a ver películas en la sala de cine con pantalla al aire libre. Que buenos recuerdos. En esa época los primos Castillo López vivían en la casa de los "Dos Caminos".

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Family Sunday Breakfast at the Cardenas







Mila invited the family to a tipical venezuelan-american sunday brunch: arepas, blackbeans, "carne mechada", "cachapas", "nata", "queso fresco rayado", avocado, bacon, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, etc.

Mila took the pictures shown here.

Following I mentioned the people present at the brunch: Hosts - Mila, Saul and Carla, Guests: Claudia and Kyle came from College Station, Ely, DeAnna, Ely II and Madeleine came from Channelview, Christi y Ruli came from Houston - Memorial, and from Tomball: Ana, Mike & Aurora, Grandma Lina and me (Mary).

We had a great time and ate deliciously. Ted and Jennifer were not able to come. They were camping at Huntsville this weekend and they took Quincy with them.

Claudia and Kyle were going to stop at the Texas Renaissance Festival http://www.texrenfest.com/home.html in Magnolia on their way back to College Station.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Abuelita Lina en Houston








Mila, Carla, Aurorita y yo fuimos a recibir a la abuelita Lina al aeropuerto. Viene a pasar tres semanas con nosotros. Después de recibirla y en camino a casa de Jenny y Ted nos paramos a tomar un snak en "Chick Fil A". En frente a Chick Fil A Mila y yo tomamos las fotos que aquí anexo. (Las tres primeras las tomé con mi camara - las siguientes las tomó Mila con su camara)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Baffin Bay & Riviera Texas - Ely's Fishing Trip








Every year around this time Ely goes "deep sea fishing" with some friends. Last weekend they went to Baffin Bay. They stayed at Wild Horse Lodge (http://www.wildhorselodge.com/). They brought back some beautiful pictures that I am posting here today with their permission.


Fishing Guide: John Johnson


Ely's Friends: Ricky and Gordon


Friday, October 10, 2008

Canelón López Siblings in 1957



This picture was taken in 1957 in front of our rented house in "Las Cuarentas" an area of Cabimas, Venezuela.

From Left to Right (Age):

Bottom - Omar (4), Jorge (6), Jesus (7), Freddy (2)

Top - Mila (6 months), Mary (3)

On the right edge of the picture you can see the silhouette of "mami" (28)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Aurorita Modeling






Ana, Mike and Aurora have been invited to a weding in the coming weeks and Aurora was modeling the dress that she'll be wearing... What do you think?

Monday, October 6, 2008

Jenny's 28!






We celebrated Jenny's 28th Birthday with a lunch at Goode Company Seafood. We all liked the mexican style "ceviche" called Campechana. We were trying to figure out the ingredients and we all agreed on: crabmeat, shrimp, avocado, tomato, cilantro, onion, olive oil, lemon/lime... It is soooo good! I should have taken a picture of it... Happy Birthday Jenny.